Diaper



E. FRIEDMAN Jan. 2, 1934.

DIAPER Filed Aug. 17, 1933 Patented Jan. '2, 1934 UNITED STA-TES PATENT GFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to apparel and more particularly toa diaper for use upon infants and young babies. One object of the invention is to provide a diaper of such construction that it may I be folded and applied to the baby without the use of pins or other detachable fasteners which are liable to injure the child.

Another object of the invention is to provide a diaper formed from a single thickness of fabric which is initially in the form of a fiat sheet and therefore can be easily washed and ironed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a diaper having the ends thereof set off by reinforcing means which not only permit the diaper to be easily and quickly folded when it is to be used but also strengthens the diaper and permits it to be firmly secured when it is in use. A still further object of the invention is to provide the diaper with improved securing means which Will not only permit it to be rmly held in place but also allow it to be adjusted to the size of the baby.

Still another object of the invention resides in providing a garment which is simple and durable inconstruction, inexpensive to manufacture and one which will be very eflicient in application to use.

With these and numerous other objects in view, my invention consists in the' novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims..

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application:

Figure 1 -is a view showing the improved diape flattened; q

Figure 2 is a view of the folded diaper looking at the outer face thereof;

Figure 2a is a view in perspective of a fragment of the diaper;

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the diaper is folded when applied, the layers of the diaper formed by foldings being spaced slightly from each other;

Figure 4 is a view in front elevation of the diaper and illustrating the manner in which it is secured when in use; l

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the diaper in use;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a tape or strip for connecting the diaper with a shirt and/or stocking: and

Figure 'I is a front elevation of a folded diaper having a slightly modified construction.

(Cl. 12S-284) This improved diaper which is indicated-in general by the numeral 1 is formed from a sheet of fabric known as diaper cloth and is rectangular in shape as shown in Figure l. A section of the sheet constituting one-fourth its area is set off by binding tape 2 which is stitched to the sheet and opposite .the portion 2' of the tape which forms the border for the lower edge of the section 1' the sheet has been formed with openings 3 spaced one above the other to dispose the 65 same above and below lthe lower edge of the tape section'2' so that when the sheet is folded along the lower edge of this section of that tape, the two openings will be disposed in registry with each other and buttonhole stitching may be "10 worked through the two layers of the sheet as shown in Figure 2a. This will form a guide indicating the :tirst fold to be formed when folding.

the sheet and there will be no danger of the sheet being improperly folded. After the rst fold has been formed which disposes end edges of the sheet in registry with each other, a second fold will be formed along the outer edge of the tape section bordering the inner side of the diaper section 1' and a folded diaper having the dimensions of the section 1 will be formed as shown in Figure 2. This folded diaper will be of suillcient length and breadth to be applied to a baby and since it will consist of four layers of fabric, it will have ample moisture absorbing qualities. Other openings 4 having buttonhole stitching about their margins are formed in corner portions of the sheet, one of which 1s out through the tape 2 and by referring to Figure 3, it will be seen that when the diaper is folded, the openings 3 and 4 will be disposed in registering relation to each other.

In` order to secure the diaper when in use, there have been provided tapes 5 and 6 which project from opposite sides of the section 1 and are firmly sewed between the sheet and the binding tape. These tapes are of double thickness and if so desired, the tapes 5 may form continuations of the section 2' of the bordering tape 2. It should be noted that the tapes 5 are of greater length than the tapes 6 and that adjacent their free ends, the tapes 5 and 6 carry fastener sockets '7 and 8 for engagement with studs 9 and 10. The studs 9 are spaced from each other transversely of the upper end o f the section 1 and the studs 10 are roo 'located at sides thereof. These studs are fastened through the bordering tapes as well as the sheet 1 and therefore will be very firmly held in place and not liable to tear' loose.

When this diaper is in use, it is folded first along the lower edge of the section 1' and then transversely along the inner side edge of the section 1'-. Y It is then laid fiat with the section 1 lowermost and the tapes 5' and 6 at its upper end after which the baby is placed upon the folded diaper and the lower portionY of the diaper brought upwardly betweenV the babys legs into position to cover the stomach. The tapes 6 are brought forwardly and their sockets 8 engaged with the studs lOrand the tapes 5 brought forwardly with one of them passing through the openings 3 and 4, the other through the loop 15, and the sockets of these tapes engage with a selected pair of the studs 9. Due to the number of Vstuds 9 provided, the diaper may be adjustably secured about the babysV Waist without undue pressure being exerted and at the same time the diaper caused to fit snugly. Strips 1l formed of folded tape having buttonholes 12 worked therein may be engaged with the studs 9 and 10 before the sockets are applied to the studs and by referring to Figure 5, it will be seen that the strips which extend upwardly from the diaper are to be sewed to the under shirt 13 and the strips 11 extending downwardly from theY diaper are to be sewed or otherwise connected with stockings 1'4. It will be obvious that the strips extending to the stockings may be omitted if so desired. WhenA so applied the diaper will be firmly held in place'Y and as-pins, buttons and other similar fasteners are not used, there will be no-danger of the baby swallowing them and-also no danger of the baby or its attendant being scratched by a pin. When the diaper is removed, it can be again opened into its flat sheet-like form and as only the small portion through which the openings 3 are formed will be secured together, it can be easily washed and ironed.

Instead of using tape as a reinforcing border for the section 1', the construction shown in Figure 7 may be used. ReferringV to this figure, it will be seen that this section has been set off by lines ofY stitching 15 which serve to define margins of this section and reinforce its marginal portions so that they will not be liable to be torn.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improved garment, the methodef applying the same to use will be readily understood. It will be seen that I have provided a simple, inexpensive and eicient means for carrying out the objects of the invention and While I have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform the functions set forth, it is obvious that various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spiritior sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A diaper comprising a sheet of fabric havin a section thereof provided with a reinforcing border extending entirely about the section, said `sheet being foldable along inner end and side edges of the said sectionto form a folded diaper corresponding in dimensions to the said section ,through a portion of the reinforced border of the said 'section and releasably engaged by the fastener elements of said tapes.

2. A diaper comprising a sheet of fabric, a reinforcing tape secured upon said sheet and outlining a section thereof, said sheet having openings formed in its corners with one opening extending through a portion of the bordering tapev at the outer end of the said section, a side portion of the sheet being reinforced by stitching also formed with openings opposite the inner'end of the said section 'and spaced vertically from each other a distance to dispose them in registry when the sheet is folded along the inner end of the section, the last mentioned openings being worked through both layers of the folded section and retaining adjacent portions of the sheet in face-to-face contact with each other to serve as a fold guide, and tapes extending from opposite side portions of said section adjacent the inner end thereof whereby after the sheet has been folded along the innerend of the said section and then along its inner side, ends of the folded sheet may be moved into alignment with each.

other and the tapes secured with one tape passed through the openings.

' 3. A diaper comprising a sheet of fabric, tapes secured upon .said sheet andY extending along sides and ends of a section thereof of approximately half the length and width, ofthe said sheet, opening being formed through corner portions of the sheet and other opening being formed in a side edgeportion of the sheet in transverse spaced relation to the inner end of the said section, the last mentioned being 'reinforced by stitching worked through contacting plies of the sheet to provide a fold guide and direct foldlng of the sheet first Valong the inner end of the said section andthen along the inner side edge cf the said section, tapes extending from the inner portion of the said vsection at opposite sides thereof, the tapes at each side of the section being spaced from each other longitudinally thereof, and tapes at the inner end of the section being of greater length than the other tapes, cooperating fastener elements carried by the shorter tapes and side portions of the said section, and cooperating fastenerY elements being carried by the longer tapes and outer end of said section, the fastener elements at the end of the said section being of greater number than the fasteners carried by the longer tapes whereby the fasteners of the longer tapes mayengage with a selected pair of fasteners carried by the said section.

4. A diaper comprising a sheet of fabric, tapes outlining a section of the said sheet and defining inner side and end edges forl'the said section, whereby the sheet may be folded along the inner end and inner side edge to form a folded diaper corresponding in dimension to thelsaid section, openings being formed in said sheet and registering through a corner portion of the folded sheet, a plurality of fastener elements at one end of said section, tapes extending from opposite sides of said section having fastener elements engageable with selected fastener elements of the section with one tape passed through the registering openings, other tapes extending from opposite sides of the section in spaced relation to` the first tapes and cooperating fastener elements carried by the last mentioned tapes and side edge portions of the said section.

5. A diaper comprising a sheet of fabric foldable longitudinally and transversely to form superimposed sections and the sections being again foldable to provide front and rear portions -for the diaper, a portion of said sheet intermediate the length of one margin being pinched together and secured to form a fold designating element, tapes extending transversely from op- 15g posite sides of the outer ply of the rear portion of said diaper, cooperating fastener elements carried by said tapes and the front section and releasably engageable with each other and strips releasably engageable with the fastener elements and adapted to be secured to other garments.

6. A blank folded to form a diaper having a plurality of sections resting one upon another, said blank having openings formed therein at predetermined points and adapted to register when the blank is folded to form the sections and securing means permanently carried by one ofsaid sections to be passed through the registering openings to retain the sections in face to face engagement with. eaeh other and adjustably secure the diaper about a bebys bedr when applied.

7. A blank folded to form a diaper having a plurality of sections resting one upon another, said blanks having openings formed therein at predetermined points and adapted to register when the blank is folded to form the sections, elongated securing means permanently carried by one of said sections to be passed through the registering openings to retain the sections in face to face engagement with each other and adiustably secure the diaper about a babys body when applied, and additional means for retain= ing marginal portions of the folded sections in proximity to eaeli other to close sides el the diaper and denne ieg openings. 

